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Peace2Peace
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Kenya
January 2, 2008 - 11:24 AM
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Who may comment on what is going on in Kenya? Could TIG members from Kenya or Africa write a few words? How long will the violence continue? 
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snarteh
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Re: Kenya
January 2, 2008 - 02:08 PM
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What is happenning in Kenya is not good for democracy in Africa. The level of instability in Africa is too high that we can't afford to see another peaceful country slipping into choas, I want to advised kenyans to settle this matter peacefully as they can because we are tired with violence in Africa. We Liberians are witness to violence and we know the consequences. Please Kenyans you can do better than that.
Samuel D. Narteh,II
Liberia
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Nick Yeo
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Re: Kenya
January 2, 2008 - 03:04 PM
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You raise a good point, which begs another question:
Why does violence over elections/politics always erupt in Africa?
In no other part of the world is the response to vote rigging/fraud/corruption so violent - Florida in 2000, Ukraine in 2004/5 (although the situation was tense), the recent Venezuelan referendum (although I'm not sure any calls of fraud were made).
Is there some rationale behind the "call to arms" whenever a particular party loses in Africa?
I'm sure that there are several reasons behind it (racism/tribalism being one of the major factors in Kenya), but it still boggles my mind whenever I see the news....it's very possible that these are merely the "growing pains" a society experiences as it collectively matures...but again, it's horrific and fascinating at the same time.
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Chinwe
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Re: Kenya
January 3, 2008 - 11:18 AM
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It is indeed a pathethic situation but if i may answer to your question (from one of the comments),
"Why does violence over elections/politics always erupt in Africa?"
Violence over elections/politics always erupt in the Africa due to self-motive. Some of these leaders do not contest for the interest of the people but for their own interest thereby investing much money during elections for campaigns and hoping to recover them back when successful. When unfortunately, these elections do not favour them, they cause violence and mayhem in the country. Secondly, fraud is another reason for violence. where an affluent politicians uses his financial power to defraud a winning opponent whom might not be as fortunate in riches.
Until we start having genuine leaders where the insterest of the people is their priority, am afraid fraud and violence may continue...Its a pity though.
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snarteh
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Re: Kenya
January 3, 2008 - 01:00 PM
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In Africa most of our incubent leaders are just not in the habit of giving up power when they lose election except when they can no longer run for another term and people in Africa now are rising to challenges but due to illetracy we are very quick to be brain washed by our political leaders who sometimes does this in their own selfish interest
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Nick Yeo
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Re: Kenya
January 3, 2008 - 02:51 PM
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snarteh wrote:
In Africa most of our incubent leaders are just not in the habit of giving up power when they lose election except when they can no longer run for another term and people in Africa now are rising to challenges but due to illetracy we are very quick to be brain washed by our political leaders who sometimes does this in their own selfish interest
But I don't think that rioting on the streets is "rising to the challenge" and in fact, I see that is a very immature response to the situations. If the people truly wish to express their opinions, then they should have exhibited that at the polling stations during election day.
Of course, that is where incumbent leaders who cannot relinquish control manipulate and coerce the results to favour them - and people are reacting to that. But, if I'm understanding the particular situation in Kenya, the problem is racially tinged - the Kikuyus vs. Luos - which sheds light on deeper rooted problems than a handful of despotic people grasping to the last vestiges of power.
Incidentally, the latest news says that President-elect Kibaki is willing to talk, but only when the violence has ended. Proponents could argue that this is a positive step, but at what cost?
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Nickybol2323
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Re: Kenya
January 3, 2008 - 06:07 PM
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The problem in many African countries is that people try to hold on to power in all possible ways, because they see power as the only vehicle to help themselves and their group. Many democracies are not healthy: there is absolutely no gray (only black and white) and there is absolutely no possibilty for coalitions or whatsoever. Africa needs to move on to elections that are based one political programs and ideas rather than popularity contests.
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Prince Charles Jiduwah
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Re: Kenya
January 3, 2008 - 07:01 PM
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We may have to be addressing another side of the question.
Is the Western Style Democracy workable / working in African culture, or should Africans improve on their cutural Democracy ?
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Nickybol2323
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Re: Kenya
January 3, 2008 - 07:16 PM
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What is this cultural democracy then? Is cultural democracy the practice of accepting corruption and tribalism? Or is it something else we do not know yet?
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R Kahendi
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Re: Kenya
January 3, 2008 - 08:44 PM
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Elections in Africa do not always erupt in violence. In Kenya, this is the first time that a crisis of this magnitude has followed contested election results.
In other parts of the world where states are still relatively young, the same issues exist, and election irregularities lead to violence. African nations are young, having emerged from colonialism 40 years ago. Our nations as they are constituted include ethnic groups that did not necessarily cooperate historically. In addition, resources have been unequally distributed. For many, the nation is an abstract entity, but the ethnic/ religious group is more tangible.
The media has implied that Kenya is a peaceful country where violence has suddenly been precipitated by a power struggle between 2 leaders who represent the Kikuyu and the Luo. That is an oversimplification of the issue.
1st of all, Kenya is stable RELATIVE to the surrounding African nations, but taken on its own, Kenya has had its share of ups and downs: insecurity, widespread poverty and ethnic tensions. Those issues have not attracted much global attention, but they do exist everyday for the Kenyan people. The violence and clashes are reflections of frustration that has been building up over the years.
2ndly, Kibaki was first voted in by communities nationwide 5 yrs ago, not just by members of his community.
3rdly, the violence that has broken out in Kenya is nationwide. Raila Odinga is Luo by ethnicity, and Mwai Kibaki is Kikuyu, and both are popular among their respective communities, however fighting is not limited to those two communities.
Kisumu and the Lake Victoria region have a high Luo population, as does Kibera area in Nairobi. Kibera is also home to several Luhya migrant workers and to the Kenyan Nubian community. The Rift Valley Province, where the church was burnt down, and where ethnic clashes over land settlement have occured in the past, is historically settled by people of the Kalenjin and Maasai communities, and more recently by people of the Kikuyu community.
The Coast Province is historically home to members of the Mijikenda, Taita, Swahili and other communities, and of course its population has been augmented by migration from the mainland over the years.
In short, Kenya is a country with well over 30 ethnic groups, and the violence that we are seeing right now is the result of years of economic, social and political currents much too complicated to be summarized in a short article.
This post was edited on: 2008-01-03 at 09:20 PM by: Kahendi
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R Kahendi
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Re: Kenya
January 3, 2008 - 09:13 PM
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Here is a link to an article on the Financial Times Page:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e9b82f4a-b884-11dc-893b-0000779fd2ac.html
Crisis leaves guilty stain on the west
By Michael Holman
Published: January 1 2008 18:37 | Last updated: January 1 2008 18:37
As western leaders scramble to prevent Kenya’s descent into chaos they should find time to consider their own failure to respond to a crisis that has been long in the making.
Seldom has an African tragedy been signalled so far in advance. And seldom have western policymakers been so complicit in a crisis that is turning into Kenya’s catastrophe. For the past three years the international donor community, led by the World Bank and supported by the International Monetary Fund, have ignored the warning signs and knowingly backed one of Africa’s most corrupt regimes...
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Prince Charles Jiduwah
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Re: Kenya
January 4, 2008 - 07:27 AM
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African have their own ways of doing things and should be encurraged not to be dictated to.
The results of telling Africa what to do, when to do it, and how to things is what we see today in different parts of Africa.
But having said that, i condem the killings in Kenya.
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Patricia Sudi
Joined: Nov 30, 2004
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Re: Kenya
January 4, 2008 - 08:52 AM
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The whole situation in Kenya boils down to the fact that citizens allowed tribalistic tendencies merged with political will of
the minority to divide them.As much as the electrol process was unfair,as a Kenyan i believed the situation would have been better if we joined hands irregardless of our cultural and tribal backgrounds
and protested against the irregularities and petioned our leaders rather than rising up against our neighbours, and friends in arms and in a barbaric manner out of tribal divisions perpetuated bt politicians.
Right now all media houses are united in
encouraging Kenyans to embrace peace and unity and rise above tribal boundaries.
Also the govt hard stance on the opposition will just make thigs worse, Let them be allowed to hold a
peaceful demonstration as the international community intervenes.
Desmond Tutu is in the Country today and
held discusions with the ODM pentagon and President Kibaki .We also expect
Koffi Annan and Condeleeza Rice to come in and mediate.Lets unite as brothers and sisters irregardless of race in praying for
Kenyans!
Patricia
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Nick Yeo
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Re: Kenya
January 4, 2008 - 10:57 AM
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bumbuwazed - thank you for that very concise summary of the situation - I had suspected that this conflict, like all other conflicts in the annals of history, is merely the "natural" result of a lot of deep-rooted tensions and inequalities.
patsibo - rising out of tribalism is much harder than just relying on media, the international community etc constantly saying it. You're right that there needs to be a paradigm shift, an attitude adjustment on the part of all Kenyans (and in fact, anyone who is stuck in this mindset).
For those who are interested in learning more on how consciousness evolves from tribalism to modernism, I encourage you to pick up the Oct-Dec 2007 issue of What is Enlightenment? It's a great examination of the history of human consciousness, and how humanity has evolved from one stage to another. Unfortunately, its not available online (the particular article that is) - but I have a copy at home and I will post some of the excerpts here later.
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Patricia Sudi
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Re: Kenya
January 4, 2008 - 11:29 AM
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Thank you DeepEND for that insightful thought.Yeah you are absolutely right, there is need to change our mind sets towards issues especially sensitive issues which relate to cultural,and or political boundaries. Thanks for the reference and we pray the call for Kenyans to embrace peace works!
Patricia Sudi
Kenya
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